Morphology based motion detection for sensors sensitive to motion induced noise

• US 7,920,919 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Nabutovsky, Yelena
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram; Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US11/556,911
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 607/19
• US Class Current: 607/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/35 by template matching
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/04 Denoising

Abstract

Provided herein are implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for estimating a level of noise in a signal produced by an implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise. Sample data is obtained that is representative of a signal produced by the implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise. Such a sensor signal has a corresponding morphology. The morphology of a portion of the sensor signal is compared to a template, and a level of motion induced noise in the sensor signal is estimated, based on results of the morphology comparison.

Claims

1. In an implantable system, a method for using a signal produced by an implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining sample data representative of the signal produced by the implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise, the sensor signal having a corresponding morphology;

(b) comparing the morphology of a portion of the sensor signal to a morphology of a template to determine a level of similarity between the morphology of the portion of the sensor signal and the morphology of the template, the determined level of similarity indicative of a level of motion induced noise in the sensor signal;

(c) weighting the sensor signal based on the level of similarity, wherein at least two levels of weighting are non-zero weighting; and

(d) performing one of a measurement, adjustment, decision and calculation based on the weighted sensor signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) includes using correlation to determine the level of similarity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the implantable sensor is an implanted photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, and wherein the signal that is sensitive to motion induced noise is a PPG signal.

4. In an implantable system, a method for estimating a level of motion induced noise in a signal produced by an implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining sample data representative of the signal produced by the implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise, the sensor signal having a corresponding morphology;

(b) comparing the morphology of a portion of the sensor signal to a morphology of a template to determine a level of similarity between the morphology of the portion of the sensor signal and the morphology of the template, wherein step (b) includes;

(b.1) aligning the portion of the sensor signal with the template;

(b.2) determining an area under the curve of the sensor signal and an area under the curve of the template;

(b.3) determining a difference between the determined areas under the curves; and

(b.4) determining the level of similarity between the morphology of the sensor signal and the morphology of the template based on the difference in areas under the curves; and

(c) estimating, based on the determined level of similarity, the level of motion induced noise in the sensor signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sample data can be used by the implantable system to monitor or adjust a parameter, the method further comprising:

(d) determining, based on the estimated level of noise, whether to use the sample data to monitor or adjust the parameter.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

(d) using the level of similarity as a reliability index indicative of reliability of the sample data.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein step (c) includes comparing the level of similarity to N thresholds, to estimate the level of motion induced noise in the sensor signal as being one of N+1 levels, where N is an integer that is ≧

1.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the sample data can be used by the implantable system to monitor or adjust a parameter, the method further comprising:

(d) determining, based on the estimated level of noise, whether to use the sample data to monitor or adjust the parameter.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) over time;

storing sample data that is indicative of windows of the sensor signal when the level of motion induced noise is estimated to be low; and

updating the template based on the stored sample data.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

repeating step (a), (b) and (c) over time; and

updating the template from time to time.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal produced by the implantable sensor can be used by the implantable system to monitor or adjust a parameter, the method further comprising:

(d) determining, based on the estimated level of motion induced noise, whether to use the sensor signal to monitor or adjust the parameter.

12. In an implantable system, a method for estimating a level of motion induced noise in a signal produced by an implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining sample data representative of the signal produced by the implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise, the sensor signal having a corresponding morphology; and

(b) comparing the morphology of a portion of the sensor signal to a morphology of a template to determine a level of similarity between the morphology of the portion of the sensor signal and the morphology of the template, wherein in case the sensor signal has experienced a morphology reversal;

reversing the morphology, along a vertical axis, of one of the template and the portion of the sensor signal; and

determining the level of similarity between the morphology of the portion of the sensor signal and the morphology of the template, one of which have been reversed; and

(c) estimating, based on the determined level of similarity, the level of motion induced noise in the sensor signal.

13. In an implantable system, a method for estimating a level of motion induced noise in a signal produced by an implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining sample data representative of the signal produced by the implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise, the sensor signal having a corresponding morphology; and

(b) comparing the morphology of a portion of the sensor signal to a morphology of a template to determine a level of similarity between the morphology of the portion of the sensor signal and the morphology of the template, wherein in case the sensor signal has experienced a morphology reversal;

determining the level of similarity between the morphology of the portion of the sensor signal and a morphology of a reverse template; and

(c) estimating, based on the determined level of similarity, the level of motion induced noise in the sensor signal.

14. An implantable system including an implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise, the comprising:

means for obtaining sample data representative of the signal produced by the implantable sensor that is sensitive to motion induced noise, the sensor signal having a corresponding morphology;

means for comparing the morphology of a portion of the sensor signal to a morphology of a template to determine a level of similarity between the morphology of the portion of the sensor signal and the morphology of the template, the determined level of similarity indicative of;

a level of motion induced noise in the sensor signal;

means for weighting the sensor signal based on the level of similarity, wherein at least two levels of weighting are non-zero weighting; and

means for performing one of a measurement, adjustment, decision and calculation based on the weighted sensor signal.

15. The implantable system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for updating the template over time.

16. The implantable system of claim 14, wherein the implantable sensor is an implanted photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, and wherein the signal that is sensitive to motion induced noise is a PPG signal.